The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-01-29
LET US REASON TOGETHER.

The failure to defeat the extension
of The Ubiquitous Hawaiian Treaty
how much Louisiana
needs thorough and able political econ
omists in Congress. And right here
we would like to ask our political
brethren of the press whether or not,
in the approaching Senatorial contest
In this State, candidates. tariff views
are to have any weight in determining
his success? Is the question whether
Senator Gibson is Free-trader, or
Senator Eustis ProieciionIst, to cut
any figure in the canvass? Louisiana
is divided into the sugar region and
the Gotten region. Do both these re-
gions think alike on the tariff ques,
ton? Or is it possible for candidate
whose tariff views suit the sugar plant
ers to also please the cotton planters
We think 1t not only possible but nee
essary. But we feor there is widespread
confusion aud error ia the public mind
on this question. We notice that pa.
pers in one part of the State, who are
pronounced Ffee-traders, claim that
their views are reflected by gentlemen
who in other parts of the State are
considered consistent Protectionists.
There ought to be no mistake about
this matter. The Telegraph believes
that the tariff issue is Of vital import
ance to Louisiana, and should be agi.
tated in the approaching campaign
Our sugar interests are of vast yea, vital
importance. We believe those interests
should be protected by the Federal
Government. We favor Their. protec-
ton on the Same ground that we favor
the protection of the Mississippi Val.
ley. The laborers of New England
have no interest whatever in the pro-
lection of this valley, yet what Louisi-
ana Free-trader will say that New
England ought not to be taxed to help
build levces. along the Mississippi
River. Internal improvements and
protection of home industry are based
ON precisely the same principle and &c
hand in hand under. the Constitution
In our opinion the idea that the du-
ties on sugar should be maintained as
a strictly revenue tariff is arrant non.
sense. A tariff for revenue only, ir
the very nature of things, must be
levied horizontally on all imports. Su.
gar makers should be protected just as
iron manufacturers are protected. ANY
other theory is logically and politically
unfair. Tho fne-spun theory of pro-
tectipg sugar and nothing else is the
deliri,un trenens Of craftsmanship ant
leads directly to ruin.
Let the press and the people speak
cut. Shall we support sugar or not:
Shall we stand by internal improve.
ments or not? The Telegraph an.
swers both questions in the afffrma
tive. We are in favor Of tariff reform
We are in favor of reducing the sur
plus. But we are in favor Of a practica
policy that will reduce taxation with
out ipjuring home industries. We be-
lieve that Free.trade was routed a
Chicago in 1884, and at the polls ir
November, 1856, aud for the future We
do not propose to shoot at the stars Of
indulge in fool-bardy visions of COM
merecial iuternationaiism! a fair ano
just tariff, commensurate with tht
needs of the Government and G2inStec
SO "a to encourage, foster and protec
domestic labor and capital, is the die
tate of reason and experience and the
demand of the American people, This
policy, candidly avowed and firmly
pursued, will rebound to the best in
teres,s of Louisiana and the Now
South, Adam Smith and Richard Cob
den and all Aglophilists to the contra
ry Notwithstanding.